Adjustable scaffold



' 1938- H., CASTADY ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD Filed June 15, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet v 1 Dec. 20, 1938 1-1., cAsTAbY ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD FiledJune 15, 1957 2 SheecsSheet 2 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLD HarryCastady, Chicago, Ill. Application-June 15, 1937, Serial No.'148,300

, I 7 8 Claims. invention relates to an adjustable scaffold. I It is anobject of this invention to' provide an improved adjustable scaffoldwhich is relatively 'eient'in use. a Another object of the presentinvention is to simple and inexpensive in construction and effie providea new and improved adjustable scaffold for use by painters, paperhangersand other workmen, and by means of which the platform or iplanking ofthe scaffold may be adjusted verti- 'cally to various heights, asdesired.

. An additionalobject'of the present invention is tocprovide a new andimproved adjustable supporting and lifting device by means of which theplanking or platform of the scaffold may be adjusted'to the desiredvertical height.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in, the novel combina- J tionaand arrangement ofparts to be hereinafter described and claimed. I 'The invention will bebest understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings showing thepreferred form of construction, and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspectiveviewshowing a preferred formof the new adjustable scaffold;

- Fig. 2' is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a preferredform of the adjustable lifting andsupporting device which forms a partofthe new scaffold;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of ;a;modified 7 form of theadjustable lifting and supporting device which is shown in Figs. 1 and2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side. elevational view illustrating anothermodified form of the new 3 adjustable lifting and supporting device;

I Fig. 5 is a view, on line 5--5 in Fig. 4, partlyin section and partlyin top plan; and

,Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the, new adjustablescaffold.

1 of four adjustable lifting and supporting devices I A preferred formof the new adjustable scaffold isshown in assembled position in Fig. 1,is therein generally indicated at I0, and comprisesa group which aregenerally indicated at II, and one of which is shown in detailin Fig. 2;and, oppositely extending planks I2 and I3 which are carried thereby andwhich form a platform or support for painters or other workmen, whenthenew scaffold. is in use.

Each of the adjustable lifting and supporting 1 devices II includesaverticalstandardor column 7J4 and mounted on this column I4, at theupper end thereof, is a collar I8, into which is threaded a jack screwI5, Attached to the standard, I4

I ofeach of the devices II by means of a collar I6,

is a tripod of three braces I1 for holding the corresponding device invertical position. Mounted on the column I4, adjacent the-upper endthereof, in any suitable manner, as by welding, is a supporting bracketI9. Rotatably mounted in this bracket I9 is a worm gear 29/, which isoperable by a hand crank 2|, and this worm gear 20 is engageable with aworm screw 22 which is formed on the peripheral surfaceof thecorresponding collar I8.

Mounted on the jack screw I5 of each of the adjustable lifting andsupporting devices II, at the upper end thereof, and in any suitablemanher, is a pair of aligned cross arms 23 for the receptionof an endportion of one of the longitudinally extending planks I3 of theplatform, andalso mounted on the upper end portion of each jack screw I5is a pair of cross arms 24 for the reception of an end portion of one ofthe transverse planks I3 of the platform. It is to be noted, in thisconnection, that the cross arms 23 are arranged somewhat abovethe crossarms 24, for reasons which will become apparent presently. q

Also mounted in each of the columns I4, in any suitable manner, is aseries of vertically spaced steps 25 foruse by the workmen in climbingto the top of the scaffold, that is, up onto the platform of the same.

-In the use of the new scaffold the lifting and supporting devices I Iare arranged at the corners of the platform of the proposed scaffold andthe planks I2 and I3 are then laid in position of use, as shown, withthe end portions of the transverse or cross planks I3 laid in the lowercross arms 24, and with the ends of the planks I2 laid in-the uppercross arms 23. The planks I2 and I3 may then be raised to the desiredheight of the platform by rotating the cranks 2| which act',,through theworm gears 20, to rotate the jack screws I5 and thus raise the latterand the cross arms 23-44; andthe planks I2--I3- carried thereby, up tothe desired height of the platform, and this procedure may be reversed,that is,-the jacks I5 and their cross arms 23-24, and the planks I2--I3carried thereby, may be lowered by rotating the cranks 2I in theopposite direction.

In this manner an efficient and relatively inexpensive adjustablescaffold is provided for use by painters and other workmen and which maybe readily assembled and raised and lowered conveniently and with lesstime and labor than is required in the building of the scaffolds now inuse,-and without necessitating the use of the very considerable amountof expensive lumber now used in the building of non-adjustablescafiolds, thus providing for economy in both time and labor.

Another advantage of the new scaiiold is that it may readily be taken.down and moved from place to place as required, and with much less timeand effort, than is required to move the wooden scaffolds now in generaluse, while still maintaining the desired feature and advantage of itsadjustability. v r

A modified form of the new adjustable lifting and supporting unit isshown in Fig. 3, is therein generally indicated at 26, and comprises avertical standard or column 27 on which is mounted, in any suitablemanner, acollar 28. Pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the collar28, as at 29, are brace rods 36 each of which has telescoping engagementat its lower end in a tubular brace 3|. Each of these tubular braces 3|is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as at 32, in a base or pedestal33, and each pair of the tubular braces 3| and arms 30 may be held inadjusted position by means of a pin 34 which is inserted throughcorresponding openings which are formed therein. In this form of the newlifting device each two of the adjustable braces 36-3| areinterconnected by a pair of telescoping adjustable links 36 which arepivotally con.- nected, at their outer ends, as at 3?, to the tubularsections 3| .of the adjustable braces. Each pair of these links 3536 areheld together, at their inner ends, by means of a pin 38 which isinserted through corresponding openings which are formed therein.

Threaded into the column 2l is an externally threaded tubular section39, and a corresponding,

but smaller, tubular section 46 is threaded into this tubular section39, and mounted on, this tubular section 40, at the upper end thereof,are cross arms 4| which are identical to the cross arms 23-44.

Mounted in the lowermost tubular section 21 are combination steps andhand grips 42 and additional combination steps and hand grips 43 may bemounted in the tubular sections 39 and 40, in any suitable manner, as bybeing removably inserted into suitable openings which are formed in thesame.

In the use of the modified form of the lifting and supporting devicewhich is shown in Fig. 3, the braces 303| and links 3536 may be adjustedto the desired position, whereupon the tubular sections 39 and 40 may beadjusted to the desired height by rotating the same in and relative totheir complementary sections. Otherwise, the use of the modified form oflifting device which is shown in Fig. 3 is the same as'has beendescribed hereinbefore in connection with the form of the lifting devicewhich is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Another modified form of adjustable lifting and supporting device, foruse in conjunction with the new scaffold, is shown in Figs. land 5, istherein generally indicated at 44, and comprises a vertical column orstandard which has the form of a tubular section 45, and mounted on thistubular section 45 is a collar 46 to which are attached supportingbraces or legs 41 which are arranged in the form of a tripod and areinterconnected by' cross links 48. Slidably mounted in the lower tubularsection 45 is a substantially cylindrical member 50 which is providedwith a row of teeth, that is, a rack 5|, and engaging with this rack 5|is a pinion 52 which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 53, this bracket53 being attached to the upper end portion of the tubular section45,"and the pinion52 being operated by a crank 54. Pivotally mounted inthe bracket 53, as at 55, (Fig. 4) is a latch dog 56 and this latch dog56 is engageable'with the pinion 52 so as to latch the same and thecrank 5| against retrograde movement.

In the use of the modified form of lifting device which is shown inFigs. 4 and 5 the upper sections 5|] may be raised and lowered, relativeto-the lower sections 45, so as to raise or lower the platform,

' such as is shown in Fig. l, by merely rotating the cranks 54, therebycausing the pinions 52 to engage with the racks 5|, and the uppersections 56 may be held in their desired adjusted position by engagingthe latch dogs 56 with the pinions 52.

A modified form of the new adjustable scafiold is shown in Fig. 6, istherein generally indicated at 51, and comprises a pair of adjustablelifting and supporting devices 58 which are identical in constructionand in operation to the lifting devices H which are shown in Figsl and2, and hence need not be described in detail here, except thateach ofthe devices 58 is provided with only one pair of cross arms 59 for thereception of the corresponding end portion of the planking or platform60.

It will be noted that this form of the new adjustable scaffold, which isshown. in Fig. 6, is particularly adapted for use by painters,paperhangers, and other workmen, in small rooms, apartments, and thelike Where a scaffold having a single plank platform is desired.

While three of the lifting and supporting devices I are shown as beingembodied in the form of the new scafiold which is shown in Fig. 1, it'isunderstood that this number may be varied and that additional devices II may be used, if desired, for the purpose of supporting the scaffoldplanks or platform, and that three or more of the devices 58 may, ifdesired, be used for supporting the platform shown in the modified formof the device which is illustrated in Fig. 6.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I arms will support, insuperimposedrelationship,

the rightangularly intersecting end portions of platform or scaifoldplanks carried thereby and each of said devices including means forraising and lowering the corresponding one of said adjustable membersand the said cross arms thereon.

2. Ascaffold comprising, in combination, a sub- 7 stantially rectangularplatform consisting of a planks, one of the said cross arms on each ofsaid members being arranged above the other one of said cross arms sothat each pair of the said cross arms will support, in superimposedrelationship,

the rightangularly intersecting end portions of 7 platform or scaifoldplanks carried thereby and eachof said devices includingmeans forraising and lowering the corresponding one of said adjustable members.

3. A scaffold comprising, in combination, a

' platform consisting of a plurality of planks, and a plurality ofdevices for lifting and. supporting justable members havingtwo pairs ofcross armsthe said platform, each of said devices including a'verticallyadjustable member, each of said adthereon for supporting end portions ofsaid planks, one of the said cross arms on each of said members beingarranged above the other one of said cross arms so that each pair of thesaid cross arms will support, in superimposed relationship,therightangularly intersecting end portions of platform-or scafioldplanks carried thereby and each of said devices including means forraising and lowering the said adjustable members and the said cross armsthereon.

4. A scaffold comprising, in combination, a su 'stantially rectangularplatform consisting of a Y plurality of planks, a device arranged ateach corher of the said platform, and below the latter, for

supporting the same, each of said supporting derelationship, therightangularly intersecting end portions of platform or scaffold plankscarried thereby and each of said devices including means for raising andlowering the corresponding one of said adjustable members.

5.15. device for supporting aplank scaffold or the like comprising abase and a member adjustably-mounted thereon for vertical movementrelative, thereto, said adjustable member having a pair of cross armsthereon at the upper end thereof for supporting an end portion of ascafiold plank, one of the said cross arms on each of said members beingarranged above the other one of said cross arms so that each pair of thesaid cross arms will support, in superimposed relationship, therightangularly intersecting end portions of platform or scaffold plankscarried thereby and means for raising and lowering the said adjustablemember and the said cross arms thereon.

6. A device for supporting a plank scaffold or the like comprising abase and a member adjustably mounted thereon for vertical movementrelative thereto, said adjustable member having two pairs of cross armsthereon at the upper end thereof for supporting end portions ofoppositely extending scaffold planks, one of the said cross arms on eachof said members being arranged above the other one of said cross arms sothat each pair of the said cross arms will support, in superimposedrelationship, the rightangularly intersecting end portions of platformor scaffold planks carried thereby, and means for raising and loweringthe said adjustable member and the said cross arms thereon.

7. A device for supporting a plank scaffold or the like comprising abase and a member adjustably mounted thereon for vertical movementrelative thereto, said adjustable member having a pair of cross armsthereon at the upper end thereof for supporting the end portion of ascaffold plank, one of the said cross arms on each .of said membersbeing arranged above the other one of said cross arms so that each pairof the said cross arms will support, in superimposed relationship, therightangularly intersecting end portions of platform or scaffold plankscarried thereby and means for raising and lowering the said adjustablemember and the said cross arms thereon, said means including a worm gearmechanism, and a hand crank for operating the latter.

8. A device for supporting a plank scaffold or the like comprising abase and a member adjustably mounted thereon for vertical movementrelative thereto, said adjustable member having a pair of cross armsthereon at the upper end thereof 'for supporting end portions ofoppositely extending scaffold planks, one of the said cross arms on eachof said members being arranged above the other one of said cross arms sothat each'pair of the said cross arms will support, in superimposedrelationship, the rightangularly intersecting end portions of platformor scaifold planks carried thereby and means for raising and loweringthe said adjustable member and the said cross arms thereon, said meansincluding a worm gear mechanism, and a hand crank for operating thelatter.

HARRY CASTADY.

